‘Pot shop’ ploys overturn city ban on the sale of medical marijuana

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4:20 (US slang for cannabis consumption) is now permitted in 16 statesDavid McNew

Rhys BlakelyLos Angeles

Last updated at 12:01AM, October 4 2012

Cannabis advocates in Los Angeles are celebrating their success in overturning
a ban on the city’s flourishing community of medical marijuana dispensaries.

The city council had been plotting the closure of the legal cannabis industry
for months, arguing that it was a magnet for crime.

However, a deft piece of legislative jujitsu has scuppered the effort.
Displaying a previously unseen level of political nous, the pro-cannabis
lobby collected tens of thousands of signatures to force a referendum on the
issue during council elections planned for March. Rather than risk an
embarrassing defeat, the council backed down, voting to repeal a